With so many iPads and Android tablets taking the place of desktops, Microsoft is probably finding it a little hard to breath. So it's no surprise that its latest product is called Surface, aptly describing the act of coming up for air when swimming.
Of course, that's not really the point of the Surface; its name denotes a flat plane, as in a table top, or a tablet.
The Surface runs a version of Windows customised for its ARM processor, looks pretty much like other tablets - it is actually a hair thinner than the iPad - and comes with a grey magnesium casing dubbed VaporMg by Microsoft.
Put head-to-head against the latest iPad, the Surface's HD display doesn't quite match the iPad's Retina display. It also lacks 3G or LTE, or an app store - at least for the moment.
On the other hand, it does have plenty of features that the iPad doesn't, including a built-in card reader and memory expansion slot, a USB port, and an HDMI-out slot. It also comes with some hardware tweaks, like a built-in kickstand so you don't need an external accessory to stand it up, and a keyboard that is incorporated into a detachable cover which is connected using magnets.
In addition to this version of the Surface, Microsoft is also planning a souped-up version, which will be powered by an advanced Intel chip and run Windows 8. No pricing has been announced, but Microsoft said it will be competitive compared to similar tablets on the market.
